Plantlife publications
Plantlife's publications are listed alphabetically according to their subject area, apart from any recent publications which are shown immediately below. To go directly to specific publications, please scroll down the list on the right and click on the title. For species dossiers, please click on the link in the column to the left.
Most publications are available as a free download. If you would like to order a publication, please contact the Plantlife office by email, on 01722 342730, or download this order form (PDF 24kb).
New Plantlife reports online
The Ghost Orchid Declaration
A call to arms to governments, Members of Parliament, conservation organisations and the general public to ensure that we do not lose any more of our irreplaceable flora.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 4.89MB)
the conservation of lower plants
and fungi in Wales 2009-2015
A strategy to protect, conserve and raise awareness of Wales' lower plants and fungi.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 4.73MB)
A guide to invasive aquatic plants. Find out which ones to avoid and why.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 1.54MB)
This beautiful poster highlights a very special group of threatened lichens, the lungworts or "lobarian community". These grow on ancient trees in woodland, parkland and hedgerows in western Britain. The poster includes advice on their conservation.
Download a free copy:
Bilingual (English and Welsh) here (PDF 3.65MB)
English only here (PDF 3.65MB)
A guide to managing and growing Sea Loch Egg Wrack (also known as 'Wig Wrack' in seashore environments (10 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1.76MB)
Threats
At War with Aliens (2000)
Changes needed to protect our native plants from the spread of invasive species in the countryside £3.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 2.12MB)
Describes the losses of one of England's most beautiful habitats, the causes of their decline, and possible remedies (24 pages). £5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 5.9MB)
The potential implications for wild plants from the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment £3.00.
Download a free copy here (PDF 2.5MB)
A set of recommendations aimed at achieving greater sustainability throughout the herbal medicine industry (12 pages).£5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 1.5MB)
A description of one of the prime threats to wild-plant diversity in the UK. Nutrient pollution or eutrophication is caused by discharges of nitrates and phosphates into the environment. (20 pages). £5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 6.5MB)
A joint Plantlife/Botanical Society of the British Isles report which summarises the results of a national survey aimed at discovering whether Mistletoe in Britain is in decline (20 pages). £3.00
A short guidance leaflet helping people to understand their way through the planning process(4 pages). Only available as a PDF
Download a free copy here (PDF 338 kB)
Is the law working to save our threatened plants from criminal damage?(20 pages). £3.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 3.2 MB)
What is likely to happen to our wild plants in the event of a warmer climate? What precautions can we take to ensure their survival?(12 pages). £5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 1MB)
Full version of Peter Marren's report on the disappearance of once common species in various counties in England (42 pages). Out of print.
Download a free 12 page summary of the report here (PDF 1.6MB)
Plantlife project reports
The findings and recommendations from the 2003 survey of the native, Spanish and hybrid bluebells (12 pages). £5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 2MB)
A brief analysis of existing data that has gone into the identification of 105 of the best sites for this endangered group of plants(22 pages). £6.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 1.04MB)
Algae are the unsung heroes of the natural world. Freshwater and marine algae are the focus of this report published by Plantlife in association with the Natural History Museum and the British Phycological Society to identify the most important sites in the UK for freshwater and marine algae.
Download a free copy here (PDF)
The report from the Juniper survey carried out in Scotland and England and Wales from 2005 to 2006 (33 pages)
Download a copy here (PDF 2.64 MB)
Download results supplement (PDF 264 kB)
This report outlines a 'blueprint' for medicinal plant conservation in the future, with general principles for action drawn from 14 varied conservation initiatives in six countries, funded via the Plantlife medicinal plants programme. £5.00 per hard copy.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 84 pages, 7.8MB)
New Priorities for Arable Plant Conservation (2007)
A report highlighting a number of issues of current concern to Plantlife with regards the conservation of
arable plants and with particular regard to how the new Environment Stewardship schemes could be more effectively implemented (20 pages).
Download a free copy here (PDF 9187kB)
The final report of Making it Count for People and Plants - a joint initiative between Plantlife and the BSBI. A summary of the survey programmes of the last five years and the evidence for climate change and eutrophication(16 pages).
Download a copy here (PDF 2.53MB)
Read our report on the impact of Rhododendron ponticum on the bryophytes and lichens of Scotland's west coast woodlands.
Download a free copy here (PDF 5.9MB)
Report written by Richard Worrell and Basil Dunlop in March 2003 and published for the first time online in 2008 (35 pages).
Download a free copy here (PDF 5.9MB)
The status of Centaurea cyanus in Britain - DRAFT (2007) by P J Wilson
An audit of sites in Britain where Centaurea cyanus is thought to have occurred 'naturally' between 1987 and 2005 (17 pages).
Download a free copy here (PDF 231kB)
Lower plants and fungi
Fungi are of fundamental ecological importance, yet no-one even knows how many species of fungi there are and few sites have been recorded. Published in association with the British Mycological Society and the Association of British Fungi Groups this report looks at the identification process for the most important sites for fungi in the United Kingdom (16 pages). £4.00
Where are the best places for stoneworts? This report provides a list of the most important sites and prioritises those most in need of in-situ conservation action (16 pages). £5.00
Download a free copy here (PDF 1.5MB)
A report containing a list of recommended English names for 1,000 species of fungi in order to give them a more accessible identity (26 pages). £5
Download a free copy here (PDF 832kB)
A colourful leaflet in a series to enthuse beginners about the fascinating world of lower plants and fungi. This one covers some basics about lichens, their uses, threats to their survival, and pictures of common species.
Download a free copy here (PDF 2.96MB)
A colourful leaflet in a series to enthuse beginners about the fascinating world of lower plants and fungi. This one covers some basics about mosses, liverworts and hornworts, collectively known as bryophytes.
Download a free copy here (PDF 3.6MB)
Strategy documents
Produced by Plantlife on behalf of Defra. This is the UK's Plant Conservation Strategy - 16 targets within five objectives for conserving the UK's plants (55 pages). FREE – available from JNCC
Download a copy here (PDF 3.5MB)
Download a copy here (PDF 3.5MB)
Without fungi, the world would not exist as we know it. This report offers a new strategy to save the UK's 12,000-15,000 known species of fungi. £3.00 per hard copy.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 28 pages, 2.6MB)
Scotland leads the way with a strategy to protect, conserve and raise awareness of its lower plants and fungi (20 pages).
Download a copy here (PDF 3.78MB)
Identification guides
Lichens of Atlantic Woodlands - Guide 1: Lichens on ash, hazel, willow, rowan and old oak (2008)
A field guide for identifying lichens of Atlantic woodlands. This guide looks at the Lobarion group of lichens, growing on trees with mildly acidic bark, especially in sheltered mixed woodlands.
Download a copy here (PDF 1.41MB)
Laminated copies of this guide are available to buy from Plantlife Scotland for £3.50 each plus postage and packaging. Please call 01786 469778 / 479382 or e-mail matilda.scharsach@plantlife.org.uk for more details.
Lichens of Atlantic Woodlands - Guide 2: Lichens on birch, alder and oak (2008)
A companion field guide to the one above, for identifying some of the lichens of Atlantic woodlands. This guide looks at the Parmelion group of lichens, growing on trees with very acidic bark and especially on poorer soils.
Download a copy here (PDF 5.72MB)
Laminated copies of this guide are available to buy from Plantlife Scotland for £3.50 each plus postage and packaging. Please call 01786 469778 / 479382 or e-mail matilda.scharsach@plantlife.org.uk for more details.
A field guide for identifying threatened plants specific to arable habitats.
Download a copy here (PDF 2.56MB)
Management guides
A guide to managing plant species in arable habitats.
Download a free copy here (PDF, 4.23MB)
An introduction to native Bluebells and how you can help protect them (4 pages). FREE.
Download a copy here (PDF 456kB)
Leaflet advising landowners how to manage coastal habitats for Ciliate strap-lichen and other rare cliff dwelling lichens (4 pages). FREE.
Download a copy here (PDF 753 kB)
Bilingual leaflet advising landowners how to manage coastal habitats for Ciliate strap-lichen and other rare cliff dwelling lichens(4 pages). FREE.
Download a copy here (PDF 920 kB)
A quick introduction to creating your own meadow (4 pages). FREE.
Download a copy here (PDF 337kB)
Advice to landowners on looking after riversides for this rare species and a guide to where it grows and how to spot it (4 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1.4 MB)
Cryphaea lamyana: Y mwsogl afon lluosffrwyth(2003)
Bilingual advice to landowners on looking after riversides for this rare species and a guide to where it grows and how to spot it (4 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1 MB)
A leaflet giving information about Dog-lichens, with advice for landowners and managers. FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 5.92 MB)
Bilingual English and Welsh brochure advising farmers how threatened arable plants species can be protected on their land (12 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1 MB)
A guide to the management of Scottish woodland flora (32 pages) £4.00
Short guide on good practice for encouraging fungi on pastures and lawns. Produced by Plantlife for the Fungus Conservation Forum (4 pages). Free
Download a copy here (PDF 1.4 MB)
An introduction to threatened lichen species
associated with old elm trees and advice on their management (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 808kB)
Leaflet with advice to landowners and managers about looking after this species and other rare mosses and liverworts on dead wood. FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 0.98MB)
Management advice to landowners and managers for looking after rare mosses and liverworts in coastal dunes (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 600kB)
Advice to landowners on looking after reservoirs for this group of rare species (4 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1MB)
Gofalu am fwsogl a llysiau afu prin ar hyd ymylon afonydd a chronfeydd (2006)
Bilingual advice to landowners on looking after reservoirs for this group of rare species (6 pages). FREE
In English and Welsh.
Download a copy here (PDF 700 kB)
A guide to managing and growing Juniper in upland areas (16 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1.2MB)
Short non-technical management advice for those with chamomile on their land (4 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 850kB)
Short non-technical management advice for those with Ground Pine on their land (8 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 850kB)
Guide for landowners on good practice for encouraging fungi on their land. Produced by Plantlife for the Fungus Conservation Forum (4 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 841 kB)
Use native plants in your pond for the good of Scotland's wildlife. The leaflet describes some of the attractive pond species that are found in Scotland, and the conditions they require to grow well in the garden pond. FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 378 kB)
Take a look at this colourful leaflet and see some of the native plants you could use if you create a bog garden by your pond (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 625 kB)
Find out more about the importance of accurate labelling, so you know what you are buying. Also includes the 2007 Garden Centre Survey, seeking information on whether garden centres were selling any of 12 specified species. (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 402 kB)
Guide for gardeners on avoiding invasive garden plants and which are the best native pond plants to buy (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 449 kB)
Avoid these species for the health of your pond and the wider countryside. Also contains advice on what to do if you already have any of these in your garden (6 pages). FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 760 kB)
Our latest leaflet in the Pond Alert! series is titled 'Tried and tested' and gives useful examples of projects involving pond creation and management which may help you with your pond projects. FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 698 kB)
Plantlife has joined forces with the British Horse Society and Butterfly Conservation to launch a new guidance leaflet on managing Common Ragwort. This yellow flower is contentious, being poisonous to horses, livestock and humans, but also a valuable native plant.
Download a copy here (PDF 972 kB)
Leaflet with information about this group of fungi, and advice to landowners and managers about looking after them. FREE
Download a copy here (PDF 1.53MB)
This groundbreaking report is the first comprehensive analysis of vascular plant flora in Wales using international criteria and gives an up-to-date picture of the state of wild plants in Wales, including threat status and decline. £5.00 per hard copy.
Download a free copy here (PDF 816kB)